DSI: No warrants for Abhisit, mum | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

DSI: No warrants for Abhisit, mum

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) insists it will not issue arrest warrants for former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his mother as claimed by the Democrat Party’s legal team.

In a press conference held on Tuesday, DSI chief Tarit Pengdit said the statement made by Rames Rattanasweng, Democrat deputy spokesman, that the DSI plans to issue arrest warrants for Mr Abhisit and his mother, Prof Dr Sodsai Vejjajiva, is not true.

Mr Rames, a member of the Democrat Party’s legal team, on Monday accused the DSI of abuse of power after it summoned the former premier’s mother for questioning about the handling of flood donations during the Abhisit administration in 2010.

According to Mr Rames, this was the fourth time the DSI had summoned Prof Dr Sodsai for questioning. He said Mr Abhisit’s mother was very cooperative and had already testified to the DSI three times before so there was no valid reason for the department to keep summoning her.

He said the DSI on Monday summoned her again as a witness and not a suspect. He said the DSI also plans to issue an arrest warrant for Mr Abhisit and his mother if they do not cooperate with the investigation.

He said the DSI is abusing its power and if it issued an arrest warrant for the opposition leader, the party would begin legal proceedings against the department.

Mr Rames said the DSI chief should have valid reasons about who he decides to call in for questioning.

The Democrat deputy spokesperson insisted the party was only a middleman in the collection of donations for the government's flood relief programme and every transaction had been scrutinised by the Election Commission which found no irregularities.

Mr Tarit said the department has no plan to issue warrants for the former prime minister and his mother for not co-operating with the authorities, as alleged by Mr Rames.

Mr Tharit said Mr Abhisit and Prof Dr Sodsai have already submitted written testimonies to the department which was acceptable and there was no reason to issue any warrants for them.

Pol Col Nirand Adulyasak, who heads the department’s investigation, said the DSI issued letters to the Democrats and Bhumjaithai to submit documents regarding donations received by both parties from 2008-2012.

“Bhumjaithai has already submitted its documents but the Democrat Party has postponed its submission date several times,” Pol Col Nirand said. “The DSI has agreed to the Democrat Party’s latest petition to postpone the submission date to Dec 7.”

He denied accusations the department was pressing charges against Mr Abhisit and his mother.

He said the DSI had summoned Prof Dr Sodsai as a witness who had donated money to the flood relief programme and the DSI was satisfied with her written testimony. She did not need to come in anymore.

He said the department also plans to call in other people who donated money to the Democrat Party for questioning.

Pol Col Nirand explained the reason for the department’s plan to summon Disthorn Watcharothai, head of the Rajaprajanugroh foundation for questioning.

He said the DSI wanted to question him about flood relief donations made by East Water Co to the Democrat Party.

He said the foundation contacted the company to donate the money directly to it; however, the money was transferred to the Democrat Party’s bank account without any notification to the PM’s Office or the foundation.

Pol Col Nirand said the department needs to verify the amount of money that the company donated to the party with the amount that was submitted by the previous administration.